Picturesque basketball courts sheltered by historical defensive walls and with an enviable sea view.

The decaying remains of a once-luxurious Soviet spa town.

A fountain filled with golden statues, celebrating the the ancient kingdom of Colchis.

This extraordinary, multi-pillared monument depicts the fascinating history of Georgia.

Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.

A boulder carved into the shape of the cosmonaut's head.

This mysterious complex of abandoned yurts and fading murals was meant to be a center of science and spirituality in Kyrgyzstan.

This Soviet-era athletic and recreation facility is the highest ice skating rink in the world.

A brilliant turquoise lake in the mountains.

A unique interactive bronze sculpture that captures a real-life viral rescue.

This retro, UFO-like structure is a remnant of the Soviet-era circus.

In Kazakhstan, a colorful cathedral with many lives once survived the most powerful earthquake in the region.

This Soviet statue is based on a piece of propaganda that's been elevated to national myth.

Lonely minaret stump of a destroyed city.

Where you'll find anything but nothing.

One of the world's oldest, it provides a livelihood for the entire community.

One of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world keeps an eye out in every direction.

Many Hindus make the long pilgrimage to this holy city to have their remains burned on the banks of the Ganges River.

Known as the leaning temple, the sacred structure has somehow developed a severe nine-degree slant.

An underground world of gorgeous, palatial metro stations designed as a nuclear shelter complex.

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

The world's second-tallest flagpole stands proud despite dropping rank.

Final palace complex of the last of 29 Kokand rulers.

Controversially restored in the 1970s, this giant 15th-century mosque is shrouded in legend.